Korean for Intermediate Learners: Requesting a Refund for a Cancelled Service
Learn to ask for a refund in Korean after a service is cancelled, using 환불해 주세요, 환불이 가능한가요?, and policy questions with -아/어도 되나요? and -ㄹ 수 있나요?.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When a service is cancelled, you need clear Korean for refunds. This lesson teaches the core request 환불해 주세요 (hwanbulhae juseyo) and the polite question 환불이 가능한가요? (hwanbuli ganeunghan-gayo). You will also learn to ask about refund policies, deadlines, and partial refunds. Korean does not use articles or plural endings the way English does, so focus on verb endings and particles. Use -아/어도 되나요? to ask permission and -ㄹ 수 있나요? to ask possibility. The phrases below are standard in customer service settings and work in person, by phone, or in writing.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a refund after a service is cancelled using 환불해 주세요 and 환불이 가능한가요?.
- ask about refund policies, deadlines, and partial refunds with polite Korean question endings.
- respond to a refund refusal and request an alternative such as a credit or transfer.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
환불해 주세요.
Please give me a refund.
hwan-bul-hae ju-se-yo
Direct but polite request. Use at a counter or in a message after explaining the cancellation.
환불이 가능한가요?
Is a refund possible?
hwan-bu-ri ga-neung-han-ga-yo
Neutral polite question. The particle 이 marks 환불 as the subject. Good first question before giving details.
환불 규정을 알려 주세요.
Please tell me the refund policy.
hwan-bul gyu-jeong-eul al-lyeo ju-se-yo
규정 means rules or policy. Use when you want the official terms in writing or explained.
예약을 취소했는데 환불받을 수 있나요?
I cancelled the reservation, so can I get a refund?
ye-yak-eul chwi-so-haet-neun-de hwan-bul-ba-deul su it-na-yo
-는데 softens the background and links it to the question. 취소했는데 shows the cancellation already happened.
부분 환불도 괜찮아요.
A partial refund is also fine.
bu-bun hwan-bul-do gwaen-chan-a-yo
부분 means partial. 도 adds 'also/even'. Use this to show flexibility if a full refund is refused.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask whether a refund is allowed, use 환불이 가능한가요? or 환불받을 수 있나요?. The first asks if a refund is possible in principle; the second asks if you can receive one. For permission, use 환불해도 되나요? (hwanbulhae-do doe-na-yo), meaning 'Is it okay if I get a refund?'. To make a direct request, use 환불해 주세요. Add the reason with -아/어서: 예약이 취소돼서 환불해 주세요 (The reservation was cancelled, so please refund me). Korean does not need a word for 'a' or 'the', so 환불 alone can mean 'a refund' or 'the refund' depending on context.
When to use it
Start with 환불이 가능한가요? when you do not know the policy. If the answer is negative, ask 환불 규정을 알려 주세요 to see the written terms. If the service was cancelled by the provider, say 서비스가 취소됐어요 (The service was cancelled) before requesting 환불해 주세요. For deadlines, ask 환불 기한이 언제까지예요? (Until when is the refund deadline?). If only part is refundable, say 부분 환불도 괜찮아요. Keep your tone calm; polite endings like -요 and -습니다 are standard in customer service.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요. 예약한 서비스가 취소됐어요. 환불이 가능한가요?
Hello. The service I booked was cancelled. Is a refund possible?an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. ye-yak-han seo-bi-seu-ga chwi-so-dwae-sseo-yo. hwan-bu-ri ga-neung-han-ga-yo네, 환불 규정을 확인해 드릴게요. 예약 날짜가 언제였어요?
Yes, I will check the refund policy for you. When was the reservation date?ne, hwan-bul gyu-jeong-eul hwa-gin-hae deu-ril-ge-yo. ye-yak nal-jja-ga eon-je-yeoss-eo-yo3월 15일이었어요. 환불해 주세요.
It was March 15. Please give me a refund.sam-wol si-bo-il-i-eoss-eo-yo. hwan-bul-hae ju-se-yo네, 전액 환불은 3일 안에 처리됩니다. 부분 환불도 괜찮으세요?
Yes, a full refund is processed within 3 days. Is a partial refund also okay?ne, jeon-aek hwan-bu-reun sa-mil an-e cheo-ri-doem-ni-da. bu-bun hwan-bul-do gwaen-chan-eu-se-yoA little context goes a long way
In Korean customer service, polite endings such as -요 and -습니다 are expected even when you are frustrated. Raising your voice can make staff less willing to help. It is normal to ask for the refund policy in writing, and many companies use 정규 환불 규정 (official refund policy). If the service was cancelled by the company, you can reasonably ask for a full refund, but partial refunds or credits are common for customer-cancelled bookings.
One thing to watch for
Using 환불해 주세요 as a casual command with no polite ending, or saying 환불 주세요 without the verb 해.
Try this instead: Use the full polite request 환불해 주세요 (hwanbulhae juseyo). If you want to ask permission instead of making a request, say 환불해도 되나요? (hwanbulhae-do doe-na-yo). For possibility, use 환불받을 수 있나요? (hwanbul-badeul su it-na-yo).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely ask 'Is a refund possible?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
환불이 가능한가요? (hwan-bu-ri ga-neung-han-ga-yo)
This uses 환불 + 이 (subject particle) + 가능한가요. 환불받을 수 있나요? is also correct and focuses on whether you can receive the refund.
2You cancelled your reservation and want a refund. What sentence links the cancellation to your request?
Show a sample answer
예약을 취소했는데 환불해 주세요. (ye-yak-eul chwi-so-haet-neun-de hwan-bul-hae ju-se-yo)
-는데 connects the background (I cancelled the reservation) to the request. 예약이 취소됐어서 환불해 주세요 is also acceptable if the cancellation was not your action.
3The company refuses a full refund. How do you say 'A partial refund is also fine'?
Show a sample answer
부분 환불도 괜찮아요. (bu-bun hwan-bul-do gwaen-chan-a-yo)
부분 환불 means partial refund, and 도 adds 'also/even'. 괜찮아요 means 'it is okay'. You could also say 부분 환불이면 괜찮아요.
Use 환불이 가능한가요? to ask, 환불해 주세요 to request, and 환불 규정을 알려 주세요 to see the policy. Keep polite endings and stay calm for the best result.
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